JULİE SVANE HANSEN, KRİSTOFFER K BROCKHATTİNGEN, KAREN ANDERSEN RANBERG
European Journal of Geriatrics and Gerontology - 2023;5(3):196-202
Objective: Sarcopenia is a major geriatric syndrome diagnosed by assessing strength, quantity, and quality of muscles. We aimed to describe the feasibility of assessing sarcopenia by bedside assessment including the emerging tool ultrasound. Materials and Methods: Participants were recruited consecutively among patients acutely admitted to the Department of Geriatrics, Odense University Hospital, Denmark. Ultrasound examination and handgrip-test (muscle strength) were performed at admission and minimum 5 days later. Muscle thickness of m. rectus femoris was measured and appendicular lean mass (ALM) (muscle quantity) was calculated using a validated regression model, two ultrasound scanning sites (dominant upper arm and thigh), and three anthropometric measures. Echo intensity was measured as an indicator of muscle quality. Results: Out of 25 eligible participants, 17 were included. There was a significant (p=0.002) decline in m. rectus femoris thickness [1.7 cm (SD ±0.2) to 1.6 cm (SD ±0.3)], and a significant (p=0.04) decline in echo intensity [121.4 A.U (SD ±18.4) to 133.6 A.U (SD ±19.1)]. All ultrasound ALM and handgrip strength measurements showed non-significant declines. According to EWGSOP2’s criteria, one participant was sarcopenic, while 12 met the threshold criteria by low handgrip strength. Thirteen participants had a lower handgrip strength compared to reference values from an age-and-gender-matched normal population. Conclusion: It is feasible to perform bedside assessments on geriatric inpatients. A short period of hospitalization may result in a significant reduction of localized muscle thickness and echo intensity. Further studies including validation by DXA scans are needed.
